The neurosurgeon Alexa Irene Canady said, “The greatest challenge I faced in becoming a neurosurgeon was believing it was possible.” I had to face and overcome a similar obstacle during the sophomore year of my undergraduate career. I want to be an OB/GYN to make a safer and healthier environment for Black women. However, the moment I started to take the “weed out classes” and saw how my peers were grasping topics faster than I was, I became very fearful that I had chosen the wrong career path. I did not understand the concepts of Organic Chemistry and Molecular Biology as easily or quickly as others, which caused me to doubt myself and my abilities. When I observed this obstacle to be a festering wound in my self-esteem, I turned to the people who have been a strong rock in my life: my parents. After speaking with both my mom and dad, they reassured me that God has given me the passion for the health and wellness of Black women and children because He has a greater plan for me to make major changes in how we have seen this community treated in the healthcare system. I was reminded of a message my dad sent me during my freshman year at Howard University. During the first few weeks of my freshman fall semester, my dad recorded himself in our basement sending me a message. He told me how much he loves me and how much he is proud of me. He could have sent a written message, however, he wanted me to see his face as he told me he loved me from another state. At that moment I felt the loneliness of being in unfamiliar territory decreased and I began to calm down. The reminder that my dad is proud of me and in my corner cheering for me is a constant motivator to help me pick myself up when difficult times arise in either academic or personal spaces. Throughout the year, I was reminded of the video of my dad in the basement, and I realized that he was proud because I am a dedicated, hard-working individual who does not give up. Therefore, I used all of the resources available to me to fully understand the information being taught to perform to the best of my abilities in my classes as well as grow in the confidence I had in myself. As I became more active on campus in the Howard University Alternative Spring Break Program and the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel Beacon Liturgical Dance Ministry, I used this same reminder to keep my head up and always put my best foot forward. I am pleased to say that I have not given up on my career goals because of how important the cause is to me. Overcoming this obstacle was and still is a journey. There are still moments where doubt may creep in, however, I know that all that I have been through has been for the greater cause of my growth in all aspects of my life. I am grateful for my journey and eager to see what is awaiting me.

“It’s a vicious cycle. We don’t participate because of what happened to us in the past, but because we don’t participate, we don’t get the data that we need to see to feel comfortable.” These words were said by the physician Dr. Toluwalase (Lasé) Ajayi in an interview about the care of black women in healthcare. I have read and had the privilege of hearing the experiences of how Black women are treated in healthcare facilities; distrust and neglect have been common themes that came up in these discussions. My goal is to create a safe and healthy environment for women in the healthcare system regardless of race, economic status, and educational background. During the summer of 2022, I researched how economic stability affects the Colorectal Cancer mortality rates in Philadelphia County within the African American community through the NIH. This allowed me to see how different social determinants affect one’s health, other than the ones I learned that affected the health of women. From this internship, I learned how food deserts and food swamps in certain communities in Philadelphia can negatively affect one’s colorectal health. I also learned that the lack of colorectal screenings can cause the growth of tumors in someone’s colon. The lack of screening is a result of a lack of health insurance which was another factor that impacts the Black community in Philadelphia. I am constantly learning about the various ways the health and wellness of my community is at risk and I am dedicated to making a major shift in the healthcare system. In the past, one significant way of discovery was through experiments, some done without consent, on the Black population. For example, Dr. J.Marion Sims was guilty of examining the female body, particularly Black female bodies, without permission but has been praised as the “Father of Gynecology.” The mistreatment of black women during childbirth and/or routine check-ups continues in today’s medical system. Women of color have a 40% higher chance of dying while giving birth and neglect proper care in hospitals and clinics. The From Anna & Ava Scholarship will help me continue pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree by providing financial assistance. I have two other siblings that require payment to go to school and my family has to juggle this along with paying my tuition. With the increase in tuition and not an increase in students’ scholarships I do not have enough money to pay to go to school. Without financial assistance, I may not be able to continue my education at Howard University, or any university. Therefore I would not be on track for my career goal of making healthcare facilities safer and more comfortable for Black women. Receiving this scholarship would not only help me pursue my undergraduate education, by providing me and my family with financial services.

“Whatever you are eating, you need to stop.” These words pierced through me as they were spat out by someone I held in high regard. There was such disgust in her voice as if all my dancing ability went down the drain when she looked at my body. This was just one aspect I dealt with during my dance career that led to many insecurities. My dance career started when I was two years old and became a part of me. I love dancing and how I can tell a story with my movements. However, the mistreatment began, and I stumbled over harsh words into a dark hole of self-doubt. Eventually, I was able to construct these words into a ladder that allowed me to climb myself out of the ditch into the growing person I am today. There was a period when I dreaded dancing due to toxic treatment. Nevertheless, I decided to use harmful relations to my advantage for growth. After being placed in a lower-level group of a ballet class, I felt unworthy of the title of a dancer. The lack of confidence put a restriction on instructors to further my skill set. The advanced group learned beautiful combinations such as gliside, assemble, jete, pas de bourrée, while my group stood to the side doing tendus. I wanted to improve my dance skills, so I criticized every move I made. For real growth to happen, I needed to balance criticism and acceptance. Through the relationship I had with those in my dance school, I know what it is like to feel unsafe in an environment. In the future, I want to be a part of making safer places for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Black women and babies are dying at a higher rate than our white counterparts and a lack of proper care for Black women, both inside and outside the hospital, plays a major role. Taking the ill-treatment of Black women in the health care system into consideration, I would like to be a part of the shift in this system. Issues such as the lack of healthcare access, racial injustice, and economic issues negatively affect one’s health through the stress and strain it puts on someone’s physical and mental health. Fixing the issues of one’s health by focusing on the problems that caused it will assist Black women in the healthcare system and social issues throughout the country. I plan on using my degree in Biology to pursue a career in healthcare to make healthcare facilities a safer place for BIPOC women. While this is the ultimate goal in terms of my career, college is important to me because it is helping to shape me. Both inside and outside the classroom, I am learning better ways to communicate with others, lead, serve, as well as being a sense of hope to others. Throughout my first year at Howard University, I was able to volunteer at a non-profit organization called Housing Up, where I tutored and mentored a young girl. There are opportunities like this that make me very grateful I currently attend Howard University. I am excited about what the future holds.